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Prototype Vehicle For the Blind

Posted by timothy on from the this-needs-a-playstation-analog-too dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A student team from Virginia Tech Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory have created a vehicle which allows the blind to drive. The vehicle uses a laser range finder to determine distances and alerts the driver through voice commands and vibration. Tomorrow [Friday] morning, the vehicle will have its first public test drive at the University of Maryland. At last, Braille on drive-up ATMs may finally be vindicated."

1 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Hmm... by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I really do not understand the point. If one can make a feedback system capable of effectively and intelligently guiding a blind person it wouldn't be necessary... Just make the car capable of driving itself. A sighted person has a hard enough time interpreting and reacting to evolving situations around them. Responding to vibrations and voice alerts is most certainly slower.

    --
    Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.